"Mira Makes Me Want To Be A Better Person," says Shahid Kapoor!

In July last year, Shahid Kapoor got married to Delhi girl Mira Kapoor. While his wedding was considered a low-profile affair, the actor says that it was too much for him to handle. Here, Shahid, who will soon be seen in Vikas Bahl’s upcoming film, talks about life after marriage, and how he has become more “responsible”.

Source rediff.com

How have things changed since you got married?

I am in a very happy space. It’s a new beginning. Everything changes after marriage. You become a man. You feel responsible. When you are on your own, you feel, “It’s all good. Life’s going on.” But you feel responsible and thoughtful the moment you have someone to take care of. From now on, I will probably take more sensible decisions. I won’t be rash. The sense of freedom has now turned into a sense of responsibility. Even when I am deciding on a film, I feel, “If it goes wrong, it won’t just impact me; it will affect my home and my wife as well.”

Your decision to marry a girl outside Bollywood surprised many. Did you know that?

Of course. I noticed everyone’s expressions, “Kya? Kaun? Yeh kaun hai? (What? Who? Who is this person?)” And it was not just about being a non-celebrity; Mira was not part of my social circuit either. But I don’t close myself to anything new. It doesn’t matter where or how two people meet. What matters is if two people connect. And I got that feeling [with Mira]. Sometime back, I used to tell myself, “I have been in relationships with celebrities, but maybe, it might be interesting to be with someone who isn’t a celebrity.” And one year later, I got married to someone who is a normal girl (laughs). I love the fact that I go back home to a normal person, who talks about normal things; and who sometimes tells me, “I’m not interested in what’s happening in your industry. Let’s discuss what we are doing for lunch tomorrow or where are we going.” It’s great and very healthy.

Do you and Mira discuss your work at home?

We talk about everything, but that’s not the only thing we discuss. Nothing should be a restriction. If two good people like each other’s company, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be together. That’s the basic rule of love and life. I have some friends, who are from different backgrounds, but they are close to me since they connect to me as human beings. The same thing happened in this case.

What’s the best thing about Mira?

Mira and I communicate very well. That’s one of the strongest qualities about us. They always say, “Be with someone who helps you become a better person.” She makes me want to be a better person. And that shows that she is a really good person.

Are you planning to have a baby anytime soon?

It’s only been three months (smiles). There’s time for that. We will think about it later.

You have acted alongside your father for the first time in your next. How was the experience?

I was overacting for the first two days when I started shooting with him. I was very nervous around him at that time. After two days, I got comfortable. I was more surprised to see Sanah (Kapur; his sister who will make her Bollywood debut with Vikas’s film). Though it’s her first movie, she looked more relaxed doing scenes with dad. She was more confident than me.

Who scared you more — Pankaj Kapur as a father or an actor?

The actor. As a dad, he is too sweet and chilled out. The actor Pankaj Kapur is dangerous. Standing in the same frame with him is scary. You need to know your stuff. In fact, the father in him helped me, and made me feel relaxed.

How was it to see your sister, Sanah Kapur, make her debut?

It’s interesting, but Sanah told my dad and me on the first day [of her shoot], “Guys, I am going to give my first shot. I am under a lot of pressure. My director is looking at me. I don’t want the pressure of you guys looking at me too. So please go away.” But I stood behind a tent, and  a video of her first acting moments. She was confident. I was surprised because otherwise she is not one of those exuberant types.

Was working on director Vikas Bahl’s film a good break after a heavy movie like Haider (2014)?

I got into the film thinking that I had just done a heavy movie, so I will get some. But the film got pushed by one-and-a-half to two months. So, summer turned into winter. And we were, wearing summery clothes in Europe. Otherwise, it was really fun.

You have had many ups and downs. Have you ever analysed them?

Of course, I have thought about them. It’s not randomly that things have started going right. It’s a long process of analysis and understanding. In this profession, one or two wrong films can make you lose two or two-and-a-half years. In the last three-four years, I have found the better people to take advice from. I have understood the way the industry functions.

You weren’t brought up like other star kids. You had your struggles. How has your journey been?

There are two ways you can respond to life when things become difficult: either you face it and learn to become a survivor, or you allow it to drown you. I had to learn to survive.That’s the only option I had. If I had not survived, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I would have allowed that situation to destroy me. I fought it, and I am now standing on my own two feet today, feeling good. Life is good.

You are married, and your career is in a good phase now. Do you feel complete?

Abhi toh bahut kuch dekhna hai life mein (I am yet to see a lot in life). When I look at my father, I feel he is a complete man. I don’t think I have reached an age where I can feel like that. If I become a complete man, what’s left to do? Retire, go home and sleep? The word ‘complete’ doesn’t work for me right now. I am in the process of finding myself professionally.In terms of my personal life, the right word would be settled.

Professionally speaking, the perception is that Shahid is in “a good space”.

A lot of people are telling me, “Shahid, it looks like your career is hitting some kind of a positive space.” I’ve been working for 12 years now. All I know is that I have to do better work. When you see failure, you feel the need to perform. The same happens with success, because expectations go up. I am not thinking about genres or making `200crore. I am focusing on my process. I have spent enough time in the industry to understand that nothingis permanent. So, focus on the process, and not on the result.

Whenever you have faced a low in your career, have you felt scared or insecure?

When I started acting, I was staying in a rented house. Depending on the amount of money I’d have in my pocket, I’d decide whether to take an auto or a bus. From that point, I have grown to become a hero. So I have seen days when I would have to think twice about if I had money to eat tomorrow. After seeing that phase, you don’t get scared of anything else. You learn to accept the reality of life.

Alia (Bhatt) says she has always been your fan. What was she like to work with?

Alia wants to know everything about everyone. She is a curious child. She gets hyper if she doesn’t have information. We got along from the first day itself, and it shows in the film. Somehow, it didn’t feel like it’s our movie film together. She is talented, focused, and has great energy.